Ulster-Scots Language and Culture

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which consultants were commissioned by the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in 2001 to work with the Ulster-Scots Language Society to help develop a strategic planning capacity.

Baroness Amos: John Edmund was commissioned in February 2000 to produce a strategic plan for the promotion of the Ulster-Scots language.

Ulster-Scots Language and Culture

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the languages, histories, cultures and identities of the Ulster Scots and the Irish should be treated equally; and why bodies representing Ulster-Scots culture do not receive the same level of resources as bodies representing Irish culture.

Baroness Amos: The Government treat bodies representing Ulster-Scots and Irish Language and culture fairly and impartially in accordance with the principles of good public administration. In relation to funding for the agencies of the North/South Language Body I refer the noble Lord to my Answer of 20 May 2004 (WA 95).

Cross-Border Implementation Bodies

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 11 March (WA 185) concerning the cross-border implementation bodies and their current policy of care and maintenance (which only allows for the continuation of existing policies), whether stopping an existing policy is currently regarded as a new policy initiative.

Baroness Amos: An existing policy may be discontinued if appropriate.

Northern Ireland: Teacher Training

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether those qualifying as teachers in Northern Ireland should be educated and trained together.

Baroness Amos: Those qualifying as teachers in Northern Ireland are educated and trained through the higher education institutions in Northern Ireland. A consideration of initial teacher education is currently under way in Northern Ireland, involving the Department for Employment and Learning, the Department of Education and the main stakeholders. This will embrace all aspects of current policy provision.

Northern Ireland: Integrated Education

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they expect that parental demands for integrated education in Northern Ireland will be met at a time when numbers of secondary pupils are declining.

Baroness Amos: The Government take seriously their duty to encourage and facilitate integrated education and respond to parental demand for integrated education where this does not involve unreasonable public expenditure. The numbers of post-primary pupils are declining and this is impacting on many schools across Northern Ireland. The viability criteria for the establishment of a new post-primary integrated school includes the requirement that a school must achieve a minimum year-eight intake of 50 pupils to be approved for receipt of recurrent grant, and to demonstrate its long-term viability before capital grant is made available. Procedures are also in place for transforming existing schools to integrated status.

Cyprus: Annan Plan

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress there has been, since the referendum on the Annan Plan, to remove obstacles to trade between Turkish Cyprus and the European Union; and, whether such imports still require approval from the Greek Cypriot authorities.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The 26 April General Affairs and External Relations Council tasked the Commission to come forward with proposals to end the international economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. We look forward to those proposals and have been encouraged by the extra impetus given to them by the UN Secretary-General.
	The Green Line Regulation, agreed on 28 April, was a major step forward. It establishes the rules under which Turkish Cypriots can currently trade with the EU.
	We continue to work with our EU and international partners to ensure that all Cypriots can enjoy the benefits of EU membership, and that efforts to reunify the island are underpinned by practical measures to reduce disparities between the two sides. We believe that the Government of Cyprus share that aim.

Physical Education and School Sport: Ofsted Inspections

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the percentage of lessons in which the quality of teaching of physical education and school sport was assessed to be good or better by Ofsted inspections for the years since 2001–02.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The department does not hold this information. I have asked HM Chief Inspector to write to the noble Lord setting out the information requested, and to place copies of his letter in the Library.

Iraq: Publication of Photographs of Alleged Abuse of Prisoners

Lord Palmer: asked her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they could have prevented the publication of photographs allegedly showing the mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners by coalition forces.

Lord Bach: We do not believe we could have prevented the publication of the photographs in the Daily Mirror.
	At the time the Ministry of Defence was informed of the Mirror's intention to publish the photos, officials did not know they were fake. The Daily Mirror intended to publish the photos the following day, which did not give us sufficient time to check whether or not they were authentic.
	There is clear public interest in exposing the actions of coalition forces if those actions are in breach of the United Kingdom/United States obligations under the Geneva conventions. We believe that had we sought an injunction counsel would have advised that the public interest outweighed any national security reasons for preventing publication.
	We do not believe that a simple request from Ministers or officials to the editor of the Daily Mirror not to publish the photographs would have been successful.
	Publication of photos in the US of US forces allegedly committing abuse is a matter for the US authorities.

Geneva Conventions: UK Interrogators

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked her Majesty's Government:
	Whether interrogation techniques involving physical or mental coercion have been used by members of the British Armed Forces or other United Kingdom personnel; if so, what is the nature of such techniques; and whether they are compatible with international human rights and humanitarian law.

Lord Bach: All UK interrogators must successfully complete a stringent course prior to undertaking any operational interrogations. During the course they are specifically instructed that individuals being questioned must be treated at all times in accordance with the Geneva Conventions. The conventions ban the use of all forms of coercion.

UK Military Commitments: Northern Ireland

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their present military commitment in Northern Ireland, in terms of numbers, units and roles; what changes in this commitment have taken place over the past two years; and whether they are contemplating any future changes in the commitment.

Lord Bach: Currently there are 12 Infantry Battalions and one Royal Marines Commando dedicated to Northern Ireland plus appropriate support troops as well as Royal Navy and Royal Air Force support.
	At 30 April 2004 12,870 military personnel (Army, Royal Navy, Royal Marines and RAF) were stationed in Northern Ireland under the command of the General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland compared with 13,288 at 30 April 2002. Currently the GOC NI also has under his command troops that are rear-based in Great Britain and Germany that can be called forward to the Province as and when required. In addition other troops can be made available to the GOC NI from Land Command if required, for example during the marching season.
	The role of the Armed Forces in Northern Ireland is to support the police in the defeat of terrorism and in the maintenance of public order so as to assist the Government in their objective of restoring normality. The level of military support is under continuous review and troop numbers are adjusted to meet the changing security environment as and when it is deemed appropriate and after consultation with the Chief Constable. Accordingly, as my right honourable friend the Minister for the Armed Forces announced in another place on 17 June 2004, (Official Report, Commons, col. 48–49 WS) two battalions assigned to Northern Ireland duties but not routinely based in the Province can be removed from the command of GOC Northern Ireland on 16 July 2004 as they are not required for routine support to the police in Northern Ireland.

Wholesale Gas Prices

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their assessment of the recent causes of volatility in United Kingdom wholesale gas prices and the related fluctuations in domestic prices; and whether there are any proposals to bring stability to the market.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Wholesale gas prices over the last few months have not been significantly different from prices in the equivalent period last year.
	On 28 May Ofgem issued an interim report, Wholesale Gas Prices in October and November 2003, available on Ofgem's website at:
	http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/temp/ofgem/cache/cmsattach/7288 –11804.pdf
	Ofgem has closed down lines of enquiry such as the effect of rising oil prices and gas market sentiment associated with the UK's transition to net imports of gas. However, it did not rule out those factors as having possibly put upward pressure on last autumn's prices.
	Ofgem is now concentrating on analysing the impact on last autumn's prices of a possible change in the composition of gas supply. It has informally requested information from some UK continental shelf producers and Bacton-Zeebrugge Gas Interconnector shippers. Ofgem has also invited comments on the increasing level of forward prices for winter 2004–05.

OECD: National Contact Point

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What complaints have been made to the United Kingdom National Contact Point (NCP) of breaches of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines for Multinational Companies, giving in each case the date of the original complaint, the originator, the date on which the NCP responded or the complaint was withdrawn and, where no response has yet been made, the date on which it is expected.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The National Contact Point (NCP) has received four complaints since the guidelines were revised in 2000, three of which are ongoing.
	A complaint was made against Anglo American plc by Rights and Accountability in Development and others in February 2002. The NCP first responded in March 2002. The investment committee of the OECD issued a clarification on the applicability of the guidelines in this case in April 2004. The company's detailed response was passed to the complainant in December 2003 and the NCP is awaiting the complainant's response.
	In April 2003 the NCP received a complaint from Friends of the Earth and others against the BTC Consortium (Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan). The NCP first responded in May 2003. The company response was passed to the complainant in March 2004 and the NCP is awaiting the complainant's response.
	A complaint was received in July 2003 from Citizens for a Better Environment against National Grid/Transco. The NCP first responded in July 2003 and the company's response was passed to the complainant in November 2003 and again, the NCP is awaiting the complainant's response.
	Finally, a complaint was received from the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF) in September 2003 against British American Tobacco. The NCP first responded in October 2003 and following a dialogue between the parties, the case was withdrawn in February 2004.
	In addition to the above, the NCP is also dealing with matters referred by a UN expert panel on the illegal exploitation of natural resources and other forms of wealth in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Thus far, the issues relating to the evidence presented against one company (DeBeers) have been concluded. The NCP statement is available at www.dti.gov.uk/ewt/debeers.doc.

Severe Personality Disorder

Lord Alderdice: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why decisions about the decommissioning of the National Severe Personality Disorder Service provided by Webb House, Main House and the Henderson Hospital were taken in advance of the publication of the independent research which the National Specialist Commissioning Advisory Group had stipulated was necessary.

Lord Warner: The therapeutic community service provided by Webb House, Main House and the Henderson Hospital for people with personality disorders is being centrally funded for a time-limited period while an independent evaluation of the replicability of the service is carried out. The second and final strands of the evaluation are due to be published in autumn 2004. The Department of Health, National Health Service commissioners and providers are working closely together in the transitional period between now and April 2006 when the funding is expected to be returned to the NHS and the service will be once again commissioned by the NHS.

Skin Cancer

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they are taking to improve the treatment of skin cancer in England.

Lord Warner: The Department of Health and the Welsh Assembly Government have commissioned the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to produce service guidance for skin tumours including melanoma. This guidance is expected to be published in April 2005.
	The recommendations set out in the guidance will be translated into a series of measures against which cancer networks will be peer reviewed to ensure the guidance is being implemented.
	The Department of Health has also issued GP cancer referral guidelines to assist general practitioners in determining those patients who need to be referred urgently to see a specialist within two weeks. The guidance addresses skin cancers. The referral guidelines are currently being reviewed by NICE and the updated guidelines are due to be published in March 2005.
	In addition, patients with skin cancer will also benefit from the measures set out in the National Health Service Cancer Plan to improve services across the board for cancer patients.

Skin Cancer

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of the proportion of time spent by general practitioners in dealing with suspected cases of skin cancer or pre-cancerous skin lesions.

Lord Warner: No assessment has been made by the Government of the proportion of time spent by general practitioners in dealing with suspected cases of skin cancer or pre-cancerous skin lesions.
	The Department of Health has issued GP cancer referral guidelines to assist GP's in determining those patients who need to be referred urgently to see a specialist within two weeks. The guidance addresses skin cancers. The referral guidelines are currently being reviewed by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence and the updated guidelines are due to be published in March 2005.

Prostate Cancer

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether a screening programme similar to the screening programme for prostate cancer in the Tirol province of Austria will be carried out in any region of the United Kingdom; and, if so, when.

Lord Warner: We are committed to introducing a screening programme for prostate cancer if and when screening and treatment techniques are sufficiently well developed. Trials for prostate cancer screening have shown that there are a number of complex issues involved. There is no conclusive evidence from any country that screening for prostate cancer would reduce the death rate from prostate cancer. It would however, almost certainly lead to the diagnosis of a large number of cases of prostate cancer which would never have caused harm during a patient's natural lifespan.
	The Department of Health is funding a large-scale randomised controlled trial of treatments for localised prostate cancer detected by prostate specific antigen testing ("The ProtecT Trial"), which began in 2001. The trial will last for five years at a total cost of £14.1 million.
	As part of the Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme, all general practitioners in England have been sent an evidence-based resource pack to help them to counsel men worried about prostate cancer.

Prostate Cancer

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many deaths from prostate cancer there have been in each region of the United Kingdom during each of the past five years.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from the National Statistician, Len Cook, to Lord Maginnis, dated 23 June 2004. 
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many deaths from prostate cancer there have been in each region of the United Kingdom during each of the past five years. (HL3291)
	The most recent available figures are for 2002. Figures for each year from 1998 to 2002 are given in Tables 1 and 2 below.
	Table 1—Prostate cancer deaths 1 in the United Kingdom and constituent countries 1998–2002 2 Numbers of deaths
	
		
			 Country 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
			 United Kingdom 9,461 9,491 9,270 9,887 9,937  
			 England 8,067 8,048 7,785 8,287 8,440 
			 Wales 497 479 499 609 529 
			 Scotland 677 769 773 777 775 
			 Northern Ireland 220 195 213 214 193 
		
	
	
		Table 2—Prostate cancer deaths 1  in Government Office Regions in England 3  1998–2002 2 
		
			 Numbers of deaths 
			 Government Office Region 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
			 North East 385 375 350 385 413 
			 North West 1,043 1,050 1,061 1,129 1,074 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 758 795 772 753 783 
			 East Midlands 690 673 688 686 728 
			 West Midlands 883 871 845 945 908 
			 East of England 898 913 898 1,003 1,064 
			 London 892 910 810 921 927 
			 South East 1,472 1,467 1,352 1,445 1,523 
			 South West 1,046 994 1,009 1,020 1,020 
		
	
	1 The cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code 185 and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code C61 ICD-10 was introduced in Scotland in 2000 and in England and Wales, and Northern Ireland, in 2001.
	The introduction of ICD-10 for coding cause of death means that data for prostate cancer are not completely comparable with data for years where the cause of death was coded using ICD-9. The data should therefore be interpreted with caution. The effect of the change in classification in 2001 in England and Wales is described in a report published by ONS. The effect of the change in classification in 2000 in Scotland is described in a report published by the General Register Office for Scotland.
	These reports show that the introduction of ICD-10 led to an apparent increase in the number of deaths coded to prostate cancer of 3.8% in England and Wales and 3% in Scotland. Information on the impact of the change in classification on deaths in Northern Ireland is not yet available.
	2 Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year for Scotland and Northern Ireland and for deaths occurring in each calendar year for England and Wales.
	3 Death registrations in England and Wales for usual residents of these regions.
	Office for National Statistics. Results of the ICD-10 bridge coding study, England and Wales, 1999. Health Statistics Quarterly 14 (2002), 75–83.
	Annual Report of the Registrar General of births, deaths and marriages for Scotland 2000, General Register Office for Scotland, Edinburgh 2001.

Defra: Legislation and Criminal Offences

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many criminal offences have been created in Acts and regulations sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs since its inception.

Lord Whitty: Defra came into being on 8 June 2001. Since that date over 400 statutory instruments and four Acts emanating from the department have come into force.
	A comprehensive and exhaustive list of new criminal offences and the number created is not readily available but I will write to the noble Baroness shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.
	Some new offences have been created. Some offences have been repealed and re-enacted. Most of the offences relate to breach of the regulations or obstruction of officers enforcing the regulations. Many of the regulations, examples of which I set out below, were necessary precautionary legislative responses to potentially devastating outbreaks of new animal or plant diseases outside England and Wales or outside the European Union.
	These examples of offences, which reflect the range of Defra's responsibilities, have all come into force since 8 June 2001:
	Statutory Instruments dealing with animal and human health
	The Processed Animal Protein (England) Regulations 2001 SI No 2376 restricted the feeding of processed animal protein to farm animals.
	The TSE Regulations 2002 SI No 843 provided for administration and enforcement of measures to deal with transmissible spongiform encephalopathies ("scrapie") in all susceptible animals.
	The Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (England) Order 2002 SI No 1227 restricted the importation of products of animal origin.
	The Bluetongue Order 2003 SI No 130 extended the definition of "disease" in the Animal Health Act 1981 to include bluetongue and applied the offence provisions of the 1981 Act to the disease.
	The Diseases of Poultry (England) Order 2003 SI No 1078 created and consolidated measures to deal with various poultry diseases including avian influenza.
	Statutory Instruments dealing with plant health
	The Plant Health (Phytophera ramorum) (England) Order 2002 SI No 1299 implemented measures to deal with the fungus ("sudden oak death") named in the Order.
	The Potatoes Originating in Egypt (England) Regulation 2004 SI No 1165 implemented measures to deal with a potato disease (Ralstonia Solanacearum (Smith)) currently endemic in parts of Egypt.
	Statutory Instruments dealing with environmental protection
	The Controls on Pentabromodiphenyl Ether and Octabromodiphenyl Ether 2004 SI No 371 imposed restrictions on the marketing and use of these flame retardants which are dangerous substances in certain concentrations.
	Statutory Instruments dealing with Health and Safety
	The Ammonium Nitrate Materials (High Nitrogen Content) Safety Regulations 2003 SI No 1082 imposed restrictions on the importation of this fertiliser which is a potentially explosive substance in certain concentrations.
	Statutory Instruments dealing with the Common Fisheries Policy
	The Sea Fisheries (Restrictions on Days at Sea) Order 2003 SI No 229 restricted the number of days a vessel can spend at sea in order to preserve Community fishing stocks.
	Acts
	The Animal Health 2002 Act (c. 42) created the offence of deliberately infecting an animal with any of 15 specified diseases including foot and mouth.
	In relation to a limited range of people (occupiers of premises, persons in charge of animals on the premises or persons under the direction of the occupiers or persons in charge of animals), where specified animal diseases are suspected it also created the offences of
	failing to assist veterinary inspectors exercising the power to treat the animals or to take samples and
	obstructing or failing to assist veterinary inspectors exercising the power to enter the premises to assess the need for, or to carry out, the slaughter of animals on the premises.

Red Squirrels

Lord Plumb: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to preserve the native red squirrel from extinction; and what action they are taking to control grey squirrels.

Lord Whitty: The red squirrel is protected under Section 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which prohibits the unauthorised killing, injuring, taking, possession, sale or disturbance in a place of shelter or protection, any wild animal listed on Schedule 5 to the Act. It is also protected under Section 11 of the Act which prohibits certain methods of killing and taking of wild animals listed on Schedule 6 to the Act.
	Under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan an individual species action plan has been prepared for the red squirrel. The UK Red Squirrel Group, a partnership of public, private and voluntary organisations led by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, is responsible for delivery of the red squirrel action plan.
	The UK Red Squirrel Group has consulted widely among scientists, woodland managers and conservation bodies on a prioritisation process for the UK's surviving red squirrel populations. This identified the areas where action to maintain red squirrels is most likely to be effective in the long-term, including the Isle of Wight, the Poole Harbour Islands and the North Tyne area. The continuing expansion of the grey squirrel is to be expected and red squirrel conservation is focused on limiting that expansion in areas where the two species overlap. Some significant progress has been made in developing more effective and targeted ways of defending healthy populations of red squirrels against replacement by the grey squirrel.
	In northern England, these priorities have now been translated into management plans for key forest areas, where we believe a combination of large-scale habitat management in forests and buffer areas allied to surveillance and targeted grey squirrel control gives the red squirrel the best chance of survival. These plans will form the basis of a bid for Heritage Lottery funding within the next few months by a consortium of government agencies, wildlife trusts and private landowners.
	The Isle of Wight Red Squirrel Forum, led by the Isle of Wight Council has drawn up an action plan for the red squirrel population on the island. The plan, which is supported by the UK Red Squirrel Group, includes contingency arrangements that will trigger immediate actions in the event of grey squirrel incursions. The owners and managers of Poole Harbour islands are working with the Forestry Commission and English Nature on a joint Poole Harbour red squirrel management plan, including contingency arrangements in the event of a grey squirrel incursion.
	Landowners and others may take action to control grey squirrels which are not a protected species. The Forestry Commission is preparing a new policy statement on grey squirrel control. This is one of the commitments contained in the "Sustaining England's Woodlands" review. The widespread UK eradication of grey squirrels is not currently considered practicable but this will be kept under general review in the light of experience and research, in particular into non-lethal control methods.

Defra: Nobel House Temperature

Lord Rotherwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the temperatures in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs offices at Nobel House on 8 June were in line with guidance on optimum working conditions for office employees.

Lord Whitty: In common with a large proportion of offices in the United Kingdom, Nobel House is a naturally ventilated building. On those days when the external temperature rises to become particularly hot the temperature in Nobel House does likewise.
	On the 8 June the temperature in London rose to 31 degrees, one of the hottest days of the year so far and considerably above the average for the month.
	There is no legal maximum temperature for office buildings: for some days every year it will feel hot inside and out and will be above an optimum comfort level. This is countered with the judicious use of fans; and works currently under way in Nobel House to make the building more open plan will improve the free circulation of air.
	Full air conditioning is not favoured because of the negative impact on the environment.

Olympic Park Railway Lines

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 27 May (WA 161), which 10 railway lines will serve the proposed Olympic Park in Stratford; and what is the planned investment in these lines.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The 10 railway lines which will serve the proposed Olympic Park in Stratford are made up of four London underground lines, four mainline railway lines, the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL).
	The Underground lines are the Jubilee and Central lines through Stratford station and the District and Hammersmith and City lines through West Ham station. They and the DLR are the responsibility of the Mayor and Transport for London. Investment in the underground lines will be largely delivered through the PPP contracts.
	The mainline railway lines are the Great Eastern mainline, North London line, Lea Valley line and C2C line. In addition to normal track maintenance and renewal works, investment plans for the railway network are set out in the Government's 10-year transport plan, the Strategic Rail Authority's strategic rail plan for 2003 and the Network Rail business plan.
	CTRL phase two serving Stratford and London St Pancras is currently under construction. Work on the line, including the new Stratford International Station, is expected to be completed by 2007.